Compare towns
Wakefield vs Epping vs Loudon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Loudon has the shortest commute (30 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Wakefield | Epping | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Lowest |
7,430Highest |
5,692 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
| Loudon and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37%Highest NH: 40.6% |
29.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Epping and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$106,966±$16kHighest 8% above NH |
| Loudon and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
| Epping and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434 8% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH |
| Epping and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$5,821 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
30 minLowest 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #118 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Epping School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.